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The Circle are a group of Druids whose power is linked to the Devourer Wurm—a primordial god of annihilation and primal aggression that threatens to return to the world and destroy everything. It is the role of the Circle to prevent this from happening, mostly by keeping civilization in check. The Circle is not a benevolent faction and will kill indiscriminately to further its ends, since ultimately they seek to prevent the end of the world. Circle's theme is nature magic. The Circle warlocks run the gamut from stone shapers, to weather wizards, bestial brutes, healers and beast handlers. They have access to fire, ice and lightning attacks and are most commonly thought of as a speedy hit and run faction.
For backstory, refer to Lore - Circle Orboros.
Circle Orboros for Beginners
Aesthetic & Playstyle
Circle Orboros is a faction of speed and aggression. This is typified by our signature heavy warbeast, the Feral Warpwolf. We have some of the highest threat ranges in the game, and most other factions require specific caster/support interactions to catch up. We can also put out a lot of damage with our warbeasts, and kill infantry more easily than almost any faction. That having been said, like all factions, we have some weaknesses as well. Our warbeasts (even our heavy constructs) tend to have either fewer hitpoints or lower armor than other factions' heavies, and often both. And while most factions have infantry options that excel at taking out warjacks, we're very lacking in that department, and tend to rely more heavily on our warbeasts to get work done than other factions. In addition, we rely fairly heavily on stacked buffs to achieve our high damage output. Most of our anti-warjack/beast packages involve a heavy warbeast, the Primal animus, and a warcaster buff in order to get the damage up enough to be a threat.
In addition to the above, we're also a control-heavy faction, sporting three outstanding control casters in Krueger2, Mohsar, and Wurmwood. In addition to those, most of our casters have at least one debuff spell, which reduces the stats of an enemy, or inhibits them in some way. Spells like Stranglehold and Rebuke can limit the opponent's activation by preventing them from performing certain actions, while other spells like Rift and Spirit Fang can keep them from getting where they want to go by putting down patches of rough terrain or directly reducing their speed. We have a lot of models with a knockdown ability of one type or another, and several other ways to block the opponent's game plan while we set up a better feat turn or board position.
Finally, we're a faction of unpredictability. We can use teleportation (mainly from Shifting Stones) to attack from an unexpected direction, use spells like Curse of Shadows to let us charge through a target, and use Geomancy on our Woldwardens and Megalith to throw out more spells than our warlock's fury value might otherwise indicate. Circle, perhaps more than any other faction, is known for convoluted assassination runs that involve moving models around, charging through other models, teleporting in, etc. for some 10-step long grand design that's incredibly difficult for even experienced players to see coming or protect against. While many of the changes in Mk. III have reduced our ability to back up that reputation, we still have plenty of spells and abilities that can provide very unexpected attack vectors.
Starter Sets
Mk3 Battlegroup Set
- Contents: Tanith the Feral Song warlock, a Pureblood Warpwolf heavy warbeast, a Gorax Rager light warbeast, and a Wild Argus light warbeast. Plus a bunch of peripheral stuff (see picture).
Tanith is a solid debuff caster, with a deep toolbox. The Pureblood has a great assault spray, and brings the animus Wraithbane to the faction, which is useful against anything buffed with spells. The Gorax is a common sight in nearly every Circle list, since Primal is a key tool required to piece trade with other faction's heavies. The wild argus is a somewhat niche piece, but his animus is useful to many casters for assassination runs, and his combo strike can help him hit above his weight class.
Theme Force Starter - The Devourer's Host
- Contents: A 6-man unit of Tharn Ravagers plus their command attachment, a 6-woman unit of Tharn Bloodweavers plus their command attachment, and the character unit Brighid & Caul
This one is designed to be an add-on to one of the other starter sets, rather than be one all by itself - you'll note it doesn't include a warlock or any warbeasts. It is roughly 35 points.
2017 Circle Army Box (limited availability)
- Contents: Kromac2 warlock, his pet heavy warbeast Ghetorix, a Feral Warpwolf heavy warbeast, a Warpwolf Stalker heavy warbeast, two Rotterhorn Griffon light warbeasts, and two units of Shifting Stones.
You may not be able to find this any more, as it has gone out of production. This box unleashes the whole rulebook upon you - from units to power attacks and solos. Its 50 points limit is slightly behind the most popular 75 pts tournament formats, but prepares you well for such a challenge.
Other worthwhile early purchases
After that, that are a few things that can find their way into just about any list:
- Shifting Stones - they are available in every theme, provide fury management, non-linear movement, and can be very tough to remove from zones. They are also super cheap to purchase, so it's not a bad idea to grab 2 units. Don't bother with the command attachment until you are sure you want him.
- Blackclad Wayfarer - threat ranges are extremely important in warmachine, and the Wayfarer brings one of the best buffs in Hunter's Mark. This spell can be invaluable to getting the Alpha strike. His spray is good too, and he has possibly the best combat stats of the blackclads (though he still isn't great). He can be taken in 3 of Circle's 4 themes, and is common in those themes. Definitely grab one of these guys, possibly two.
- Druid Wilder - While not every warlock wants to take her, she is useful to the ones that really want her. Fury management and a free upkeep is always useful, especially with low fury warlocks. Note, she doesn't do anything for constructs, so if you are diving into the Wold side of the faction, skip her for now.
- A Warpwolf Kit - this kit includes the parts to make any of the three warpwolves, a Feral Warpwolf, a Pureblood Warpwolf, and a Warpwolf Stalker. These models are often the face of the faction, and many players are drawn to Circle purely out of love for the giant wolves swinging swords about. If you have the necessary skill, magnetize this kit, so you can swap between them. Each wolf plays very differently, and learning which one you like most can take some time.
After this point, it comes down to which portion of the faction you enjoy. You like the big stone guys? Check out the Bones of Orboros theme and grab a few Woldwardens and Woldwyrds. You enjoy playing living beasts or mix living and stone guys with some militaristic warriors? Then get into the Wild Hunt and grab what beasts you like and unit of Wolves of Orboros. Or do you want to play half-beastial humans? Then your choice is the Devourer's Host. Both the Wild Hunt and the Devourer's Host has lots of options to go into when building. Beginners are suggested to avoid Secret Masters at first, it has a higher learning curve, and requires an investment in minions. Template:LOSbox
Starting a Theme Force
Template:Starting a Theme Force text
Theme Forces
Secret Masters
All the druid types, both kinds of beasts, and a buttload of Minions.
Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme:
The Bones of Orboros
Druid solos and construct warbeasts.
Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme:
The Devourer's Host
Tharn, the half-bestial humans of the forest.
Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme:
The Wild Hunt
Wolf Sworn, the more militaristic warriors of Circle, alongside large groups of any of the Circle warbeasts.
Here's some examples of the model aesthetic for this theme:
Circle Models
Warlocks
Template:WNTemplate:WNTemplate:GAPTemplate:WNTemplate:GAPTemplate:WNTemplate:GAPTemplate:WNTemplate:WNTemplate:WNTemplate:GAPTemplate:WNTemplate:WNTemplate:GAP| Krueger0 | Refer to Circle solos, below
Template:WN Template:WN Template:GAP Template:WN Template:GAP Template:WN Template:WN Template:GAP Template:WN (Not tournament legal) Template:GAP Template:WN Template:GAP Template:WN Template:GAP |
| Una1 | Refer to Circle solos, below |
Warbeasts
- Light
- Heavy
- Gargantuan
- Light
- Heavy
- Gargantuan
- Brennos the Elderhorn - (bonded to Morvahna)
- Ghetorix - (bonded to Kromac)
- Loki - (bonded to Tanith)
- Megalith - (bonded to Baldur)
Battle Engines & Structures
- Battle Engine - Celestial Fulcrum
- Structure - Well of Orboros
Units
- Brighid & Caul
- Death Wolves
- Druid Mist Riders
- Druids of Orboros
- CA - Overseer
- Stoneward & Woldstalkers
- Reeves of Orboros
- CA - Chieftain & Standard
- Sentry Stone & Mannikins
- Shifting Stones
- CA - Stone Keeper
- Tharn Bloodtrackers
- CA - Nuala the Huntress
- Tharn Bloodweavers
- CA - Haruspex
- Tharn Blood Pack
- Tharn Ravagers
- CA - Chieftain
- Tharn Wolf Riders
- Warpborn Skinwalkers
- CA - Alpha
- Wolves of Orboros
- CA - Chieftain & Standard
Solos
- Blackclad Stoneshaper
- Blackclad Wayfarer
- Chuck Dogwood
- Tharn Blood Shaman - (Warlock Attachment)
- Bloodweaver Night Witch
- Druid Wilder - (Warlock Attachment)
- Gallows Grove
- Kogan the Exile - (Partisan)
- Krueger0: Krueger the Stormseer - (Lesser Warlock)
- Lord of the Feast
- Primal Archon - (Partisan)
- Reeve Hunter
- Shivers
- Tharn Ravager Shaman
- Tharn Ravager White Mane
- Tharn Wolf Rider Champion
- Una1: Una the Falconer - (Lesser Warlock)
- Una2: Refer Warlocks
- War Wolf
- Wolf Lord Morraig
- Wolf with No Name - (Partisan)
Minions that work for the Circle
Refer to Who works for Whom and/or Category: Circle Orboros Minion
But basically, as of 2020.12, Circle have access to all Minions except:
- Blythe & Bull
- Boomhowler & Co.
- Boomhowler 2
- Boomhowler 3
- Flubbin
- Leadfoot & Tredz
- Orin Midwinter
- Pyg Tank
- Raluk Moorclaw
- Void Archon
- Weird Wendell
Other
Designer's Notes 2016
Just before the launch of the mk3 ruleset, the game developers did a series of Insider articles about what they saw as each Faction's "Core Identity". Although it's a little dated now, it is still an interesting insight to how they view Circle 2016.05 Circle Preview.